We live in a society where we’re always looking to improve some aspect of our lives. Even in times when everything is going well and you’re finding fulfillment and joy in different ways, you may still feel like something is amiss.

It may even feel like you’re watching someone else’s life go by.

That can be confusing, when you’re so proud and in love with your life, but at the same time like it may not be real. And it’s during those times when you may want to slow down and connect more with life. And not in an extra yoga class kind of way.

This isn’t permission to slow down and be unproductive; it means to start being intentional with your time and start getting curious about why a faster pace in life doesn’t always benefit us. It’s about finding a way to feel accomplished and connected.

Consider the fact that we are rushing all the time, from one personal or professional obligation to the next. What are you rushing towards? What is the end goal? We will always want the next thing, and by going at this pace, we are missing the entire point of what we are trying to accomplish.

Could it be that our basic human need to please and be respected by others is causing most of this chaotic pace?

There is some degree of autopilot that happens in order to get through the day-to-day. For some, autopilot looks like doing the next thing just to get through a packed schedule, wasting energy doing things because you believe you ‘should’, or being fearful of delegating tasks because you don’t want to give up control.

But slower living has no room for autopilot. It’s about taking time multiple times a day to ground yourself and breathe, reminding yourself what day it is, what time it is, what the weather is, what your love ones are doing, and what your why is.

So what exactly are we doing that hinders us from connection?

Not having work boundaries may be at the top of the list. Clicking through hundreds of notifications throughout the day, letting your inbox take over your life, and having no other option than “This all has to be done, and it has to be done now.”

We have also become so obsessed with control and what others think, such that we may not set boundaries on the time we give to others. That will eventually drain every bit of energy you have. And that’s when you need to ask yourself: who are you spending time with? Do they engage in conversation that fills you up and aligns with your values?

Another barrier to slower living and connection with our lives is perfectionism. The world isn’t going to end if the towels aren’t folded your way, or if you don’t get to every email. It won’t end if the laundry isn’t done, or if you don’t complete even one task off your to-do list. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, once said:

“Mindfulness is a certain way of paying attention that is healing, that is restorative, that is reminding you of who you actually are so that you don’t wind up getting entrained into being a human doing rather than a human being.”

You heard right: you are a human being, not a human doing.

Your body is a temple that should be respected, and spending so much time trying to appease others or trying to be perfect doesn’t allow you to use this body for its true purpose. Rather than hustling just to stay ahead of everyone else, slow down and stop comparing, perfecting, and trying to get ahead. And remember it doesn’t mean you’re chasing fewer dreams.

It means you’re taking a moment to just be.

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Haley Goodrich, RD, LDN is a private practice Registered Dietitian based in Pittsburgh, PA inspiring others to have a healthy relationship with food. Specializing in disordered eating, intuitive eating, and digestive health, Haley’s mission is to show that healthy doesn’t have to be restrictive or defined by how you compare to others. To stay inspired to be your healthiest you, visit Haley at INSPIRD Nutrition.